Automobile clock



Jan. 19, 1932. R. H. MATTHIESSEN 1,841,750

AUTOMOBILE CLOCK Filed July 11, 1928 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA I N VEN TOR.

MPH H-Mq rkhiessen l/ I r I a '1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH HyMATTHIESSEN, OF IRVINGTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN CLOCK COMPANY, OF PERU, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS AUTOMOBILE (21.00]:

Application filed July 11,

My invention relates to automobileclocks and has for its object the production of such a clock that can be readily and easily and very inexpensively put on the dash board of an automobile because it requires only a small aperture in the dash board instead of the usual large aperture required before my in-' A further object of my invention is the production of such a clock that does not require additional screws or other auxiliary fastening devices to retain it in place on the automobile dash board.

A further object of my invention is to produce such a clock that in itself is very simple to apply, simple in construction, inexpensive to produce and one that can be securely fastened in place on the dash board.

I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

The figure shows an enlarged partial crosssectional view of an automobile clock of my invention, said section being through the center shaft of said clock.

In the drawing 1 represents the rearward casing of my clock in which is fastened as usual, the time movement unit indicated by 2 which has the usual center shaft 3 journalled on same which rotates 1 revolution in one hour. 4 is a cover for the rearward casing 1 which is fastened thereto by means of the screws 5 shown. q

Fastened in the front end of easing 1 is a long externally threaded tubular member 6 as shown havingthe tubular part 7 into which projects the end of thecenter shaft 3 which has a pin 8 insertednear its forward end as shown. Mounted on the externally threaded member 6 is an elongated internally threaded member 9 which is fastened to the rear plate 10 of the forward or dial casing 11 by vmeans of a shouldered part shown on member 9. Said member 10 1928. Serial N0. 291,847.

is fastened to casing 11 by means of the screws 12. Mounted on and fastened to 10 by means of the screws 13'is a frame plate 13 which has a central aperture as shown in which is journalled a shaft 14 which is in cent al alignment with the center shaft 3 above mentioned. Mounted on the rear end of shaft 14 is a clutch member 15 which has an aperture into which the left hand end of center shaft 3 projectsand a plurality of oppositely opposed slots 16 into which the pin 8 on center shaft 3 passes in order to put the center shaft 3 in the rearward cas ing 1 into aperture engagement with center shaft 14 in the forward casing 11 when the internally threaded part 9 is turned or screwed on the externally threaded part 6 the respective casings 1 and 11 as shown. The entering ends of the slots 16 are flared off as shown to permit the pin 8 to readily enter same as the parts are brought together.

From the above'described connection between center shaft 3 in the rearward casing 1 and the center shaft 14 in the forward casing 11, it is evident that shaft 14 also makes 1 complete rotation in one hour just the same as the center shaft of the usual time clock so that it will carry the usual minute hand 17 on the end of said center shaft after it'projects through the central aperture in the usual dial plate 18 which is fastened-to the plate 13 by means of the screws 19. Journalled on shaft 14 is the cannon wheel 20 which has the usual projection on which is mounted the hour hand 21 and said cannon wheel 20 is driven by means of the usual dial train gearing not shown by means of the pinion 22 mounted on the shaft 14. 23 is the usual glass or crystal which covers the dial plate and hands as shown.

In application of my clock to the dashboard 24 of an automobile a comparatively small aperture 25 is drilled in the dashboard and rearwardly casing 1 is so held that its externally threaded part6 projects into and through said aperture 25 when the forward casing 11 having the internally threaded part 9 is projected into said aperture 25 into operative engagement with the part 6 and the casings rotated until they are locked securely against the dashboard 24 as shown.

Journally mounted in a tubular bearing 26 fastened in cover 4 is a shouldered hand setting shaft 27. Fastened on the right hand end of shaft 27 by means of the screw thread shown is the knurled hand set head 28. Head 28 has a tubular part 29 and member 26 has a similar tubular part 30, in which parts is m enclosed a spring 31 which encircles the right hand end of shaft 27 and holds said shaft to the right keeping the slotted clutch member 32 out of engagement with its reciprocal part 33 fastened on the right hand end of said center shaft 3. Member 32 has a plurality of slots 34 which engage the projections on 33 when said parts 32 and 33 are brought into engagement by pressure on the knurled head 28 so that the hands 17 and 21 will rotate and set to correct time by turning said knurled head 28.

From the above description it will be seen that with the clock of my invention it is only necessary to put a very small hole through the dash board and that I can use a very large dial plate with any size of the larger clocks movements with same size hole so that the size of dial and clock used does not effect the size of the small hole that is needed in the dash. Being able to use a larger dial for the car driver enables him to read the time without detracting too much attention from the driving and thus assists him in avoiding accidents.

35 It will be understood, of course, that while I have here shown one form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown but desire to have it taken in a sense illustrative of any and all forms that come fairly within the scope of my claim.

I claim:

In an automobile clock of the type that is mounted on the dash by means of an aperture in the dash that is smaller than the clock, the

combination of a dial train in a separate container and a time movementin a separate container with external co-operative screw threaded tubular means on said containers for adjustably coupling and locking said containers together through said aperture independently of the different thickness of the individual dashes with a co-operative communicating slot and pin connecting means between said dial train and said time movement. RALPH H. MATTHIESSEN. 

